Fluid machine

ABSTRACT

A fluid machine comprising a fluid storage tank (1), provided with an inlet (2) and at least with one outlet nozzle (3), and in the area of the outlet nozzle (3) there is mounted, on a holding device (4), at least one rolling rotor (5) represented by a body of a rotary shape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a fluid machine which consists of a fluidstorage tank provided with an inlet and at least with one outlet nozzle.

2. Background Art

From the Author's Certificate No. 941 665 of the former USSR there isknown a hydraulic motor which consists of a rectifying channel, in whicha narrowing outlet is made. In the axis of the narrowing outlet there ismounted a spherical rotor on a shaft. The rotor is connected to astarting motor.

At putting into operation, first the shaft is made turning and in thisway the spherical rotor as well. The fluid stream which, in thenarrowing outlet, flows round the sphere, is made rotating in this way.The rotating fluid stream keeps then the spherical rotor in rotation dueto the friction between the fluid and the surface of the sphericalrotor. It is necessary to stress that the spherical rotor is not rollingover walls of the narrowing outlet in any regime.

A drawback of said embodiment resides in the fact that the hydraulicmotor cannot be put into operation without an auxiliary starting motor.

From another Author's Certificate No. 1701971 of the former USSR thereis known an analogous hydraulic motor, where the starting motor isreplaced with spiral blades mounted in the narrowing outlet.

As to said embodiment there is also not supposed that the rotor is toroll over the wall of the narrowing outlet.

In the practice there was shown that the flowing round the describedtype of the rotor causes unnecessary losses. That was why a moresuitable embodiment of a fluid machine of a higher efficiency was insearch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The mentioned aim was achieved by means of a fluid machine comprising ofa fluid tank provided with an inlet and at least with one outlet nozzleaccording to this invention, the principle of which resides in the factthat in the flow area of the outlet nozzle there is mounted, on theholding device, at least one rolling rotor represented by a body of arotary shape.

The rolling fluid machine according to the invention makes it possibleto utilise efficiently the power of the streaming fluid which may berepresented not only by a liquid, but also by gas and by mixtures ofliquids and gases. A higher efficiency may be achieved especially bydecreasing the resistance which arises when the rotor rolls in a fluid.The machine can work even with fluids which are very polluted withmechanical particles. Moreover an eventual exchange of worn parts isvery easy.

To increase the efficiency, it is advantageous, if the rotor isseparated by means of a plane of the largest diameter into two parts ofdifferent capacities, the first part of the rotor adjacent to the outletnozzle is larger than the second rotor part which is reverse withrespect to the outlet nozzle.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the capacity of the second partof the rotor may equal zero and at least a part of the surface of thefirst part of the rotor may be of a spherical shape.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the whole rotor may be ofa spherical shape.

For a appropriate utilisation of the streaming medium, it isadvantageous, if the holding device consists of an area of bearing,arranged in the outlet nozzle behind the rotor, or if the holding deviceconsists of a shaft pivoted in a frame and holding the rotor in the axisof the outlet nozzle, and the shaft is flexible at least in a definitesection.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the holding deviceconsists of a crankshaft pivoted in a frame and holding the rotoroutside the axis of the outlet nozzle.

For an easy transfer of gained power, it is advantageous, if the rotoris provided with magnets, opposite which, in the outlet nozzle, thereare mounted magnetic coils, or vice versa, the rotor is provided withmagnetic coils, opposite which, in the outlet nozzle, there are mountedmagnets, eventually the rotor is represented by a upstream tubular-bulbtype turbine with embodying generator.

In some embodiments it may be advantageous, from the kinematic point ofview, to change the function of the machine, so that the rotor ismounted in a non-rotary way and the outlet nozzle is mounted in asliding way in the plane being perpendicular to the direction of flow.

To create a pump, it is advantageous, if the rotor and a driving unitare interconnected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The fluid machine according to the invention will be described indetails by means of drawings, in which individual figures illustrate:

FIG. 1--an example of an embodiment of the fluid machine according tothe invention

FIG. 2--an example of an embodiment of the rotor

FIG. 3--another example of the embodiment of the rotor

FIG. 4--another example of the embodiment of the fluid machine accordingto the invention

FIG. 5--another example of the embodiment of the fluid machine accordingto the invention

FIG. 6--another example of the embodiment of the fluid machine accordingto the invention

FIG. 7--another example of the embodiment of the fluid machine accordingto the invention adapted for gaining electric power

FIG. 8--another example of the embodiment of the fluid machine forobtaining electric power

FIG. 9--another example of the embodiment of the fluid machine forgaining electric power

FIG. 10--the fluid machine installed in a free stream

FIG. 11--the fluid machine installed in a piping

FIG. 12--the fluid machine functioning as a pump

FIG. 13--an example of an embodiment of the fluid machine according tothe invention with a spherical rotor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The fluid machine as in FIG. 1 consists of a metal storage tank 1 ofwater, provided in its upper part with an inlet 2 and in its lower partwith an outlet nozzle 3 in the shape of a narrowing outlet. Onto theupper edge of the storage tank 1 there is fixed a frame 14, in whichthere is pivoted a shaft 11, the lower section of which is elastic. Inthe level of the outlet nozzle 3 there is mounted, on the shaft 11, arotor 5 made of plastics. The rotor 5 is represented by a rotary body,the capacity of which is separated by the plane 6 of the largestdiameter into two parts. The first part 9 of the rotor 5, arranged underthe plane 6, is of a larger capacity than the second part 10 of therotor 5. FIG. 13 shows an analogous embodiment which differs only in theshape of the rotor 5 which is spherical in this case.

Water supplied into the storage tank 1 through the inlet 2 streams fromthe storage tank 1 through the outlet nozzle 3, and the stream of theflowing away water causes that the rotor 5 starts to roll in a circularmotion along the walls of the outlet nozzle 3. The rolling of the rotor5 along the inner wall of the outlet nozzle 3 is made possible by theflexible part of the shaft 11. The rotary motion of the rotor 5 can beutilised for driving various tools, or it may be transferred by means ofthe shaft 11, e.g. to an unshown generator of electric power.

Of course, the holding device 4 may be installed also under the rotor 5,as it is shown in FIG. 5. The function of this embodiment is the same asthe function of the above mentioned embodiment.

The maximum efficiency is achieved, if the capacity of the second part10 of the rotor 5, above the plane 6 of the largest diameter,approximates to zero. The ideal example of the embodiment is illustratedin FIG. 2, according to which the rotor 5 is represented by ahemisphere, so that the capacity of the second part 10 over the plane ofthe largest diameter equals zero.

The first part 9 of the rotor 5 which is adjacent to the outlet nozzle3, need not be, of course, in the shape of a hemisphere. In FIG. 3 thereis shown the shape of a spherical segment. Generally, it would besufficient that it concerns a rotary body, e.g. an ellipsoid. The secondpart 10 of the rotor 5, according to FIG. 3, is represented by a part ofthe ellipsoid. The capacity of said second part 10 of the rotor isconsiderably smaller than the capacity of the first part 9. Of course,the rotor 5 may be the hollow one.

In FIG. 4 there is shown an example of the embodiment of the fluidmachine, the holding device 4 of which consists of the area 8 of bearingwhich is fixed in the outlet nozzle 3 behind the rotor 5 with respect tothe stream direction. The first part 9 of the rotor 5, made of plastic,is of the hemispherical shape and the second part 10 is of the shape ofa part of the ellipsoid.

The rotor 5 is mounted onto the area 8 of bearing in a free way, so thatit rolls over walls of the outlet nozzle 3, if the fluid passes throughthe outlet nozzle 3. The above described shape of the rotor 5 guaranteesthat the rotor 5 is orientated permanently by its first part 9 of thelarger volume towards the outlet nozzle 3.

The area 8 of bearing may be readjusted as to its height by means of anreadjusting device, not shown in the figure.

One of the possibilities how to utilise power obtained in such a wayresides in mounting a system of magnets 12 into the rotor 5, and then,at their level, to mount a system of magnetic coils 13 in the wall ofthe outlet nozzle 3.

Rolling of the rotor 5 creates a relative motion between magnets 12 andcoils 13, which results in inducing electric current.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of the fluid machine according to theinvention, the rotor 5 of which is carried by a crankshaft 15. Thecrankshaft 15 is pivoted in a frame 14, the centre of which is identicalwith the axis of the outlet nozzle 3. The frame 14 may be arrangedeither under the outlet nozzle 3 (as it is shown in FIG. 6), or over theoutlet nozzle 3 (analogously as in the embodiment in FIG. 1). On thecrankshaft 15 there is pivoted the rotor 5. The crank length of thecrankshaft 15 is selected so that the rotor 5 may be in contact with thewall of the outlet nozzle 3, along which it rolls powered by the fluidstream, flowing through the outlet nozzle 3. The torque, acting on thecrankshaft 15, can be utilised e.g. for driving a generator of electriccurrent.

The gained power can be also utilised according to the embodiment shownin FIG. 7 (analogously as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4) in such away that the rotor 5 is provided with a system of the magnets 12, at thelevel of which, in the wall of the outlet nozzle 3, there are mountedmagnetic coils 13, in which electric current is induced due to therolling of the rotor 5.

FIG. 8 shows the embodiment analogous to the embodiment as in FIG. 7,but with the difference that the positions of the magnets 12 and of thecoils 13 were mutually exchanged, so that the induced electric currentis taken from the rotor 5.

FIG. 9 shows the embodiment of the fluid machine analogous to theembodiment as in FIG. 6. The rotor 5 of the embodiment in FIG. 9 isrepresented by a so called flowed-round generator 16, the magnetic coils13 of which, as well as the magnets 12, are mounted in the rotor 5. Aquicker relative motion between the coils 13 and the magnets 12 can beachieved e.g. by means of an unshown epicyclic gear.

The storage tank 1 of all above mentioned embodiments of the fluidmachine according to the invention need not be represented only by atank. Said storage tank 1 may be made e.g. by damming a stream of ariver or of a brook, as it is shown in FIG. 10.

The storage tank 1 can be also represented e.g. by a part of awater-piping 17, as it is shown in FIG. 11. The water stream directionin the piping 17 is indicated by means of an arrow. The water stream inthe piping 17 makes the rotor 5 rotating in the same way as in the abovementioned embodiments. At the same time, the water stream presses therotor 5 to the area 8 of bearing. Electric current is induced in themagnetic coils 13 in the same way as in the above mentioned examples ofembodiment.

As to the example of embodiment shown in FIG. 11, it is evident, thatthe fluid machine according to the invention may work not only in anapproximately vertical position of the axis of the outlet nozzle 3, asit is at a liquid gravitation outflow, but the axis of the outlet nozzle3 can be orientated arbitrarily, if the fluid is supplied to the outletnozzle 3 under a sufficient pressure.

The fluid need not be only a liquid, but the machine is functional evenif the medium is represented by gas, eventually by a mixture of gasesand liquids. The described examples show that the machine according tothe invention can work as a source of a torque and as a generator ofelectric current.

This machine, though, can also work as a pump. An example of such anembodiment is shown in FIG. 12. To the shaft 11 there is connected adriving unit 18 which can be an electric motor which drives, by means ofthe shaft 11, the rotor 5. A part of the shaft 11 is flexible, so whenthe rotor 5 is rotating, it starts to roll over the wall of the outletnozzle 3 and in this way the fluid is pumped from the storage tank 1into a space 19. The driving unit 18 may be represented by an arbitrarymotor, eventually by a manual drive with an appropriate gearingmechanism.

Of course, an expert could adapt the fluid machine according to theinvention in such a way that the rotor 5 is fixed and the outlet nozzle3 rolls. As to such an embodiment the nozzle must be mounted in asliding way in the plane being perpendicular to the direction of flow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid machine comprising:a fluid storage tankprovided with an inlet; a holding device; and at least with one outletnozzle, wherein that in the flow area of the outlet nozzle there ismounted, on the holding device, in a manner enabling free rolling alongwith the inner wall of the outlet nozzle, at least one rolling rotorrepresented by a body of a rotary shape.
 2. The fluid machine accordingto claim 1, wherein the rotor has a volume, the volume of the rotor isseparated by a plane through the largest diameter into two parts ofdifferent capacities, the first part of the rotor adjacent to the outletnozzle is larger than the second part of the rotor, reverse with respectto the outlet nozzle.
 3. The fluid machine according to claim 2, whereinthe volume of the second part of the rotor reverse with respect to theoutlet nozzle, equals zero.
 4. The fluid machine according to claim 2,wherein at least apart of the surface of the first part of the rotoradjacent to the outlet nozzle, is of a spherical shape.
 5. The fluidmachine according to claim 1, wherein the rotor is of a spherical shape.6. The fluid machine according to claim 1, wherein the holding devicecomprises an area of bearing, arranged in the outlet nozzle behind therotor.
 7. The fluid machine according to claim 1, wherein the holdingdevice comprises a shaft pivoted in a frame and holding the rotor in theaxis of the outlet nozzle, and the shaft is flexible at least in adefinite section.
 8. The fluid machine according to claim 1, wherein theholding device comprises a crankshaft pivoted in the frame and holdingthe rotor outside the axis of the outlet nozzle.
 9. The fluid machineaccording to claim 1, wherein the rotor is provided with magnets,opposite which, in the outlet nozzle, there are mounted magnetic coils.10. The fluid machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotor isprovided with the magnetic coils, opposite which, in the outlet nozzle,there are mounted the magnets.
 11. The fluid machine according to claim1, wherein the rotor includes an upstream tubular-bulb type turbine withembodying generator.
 12. The fluid machine according to claim 1, whereinthe rotor is mounted in a non-rotary way and the outlet nozzle ismounted in a sliding way in the plane being perpendicular to the passagedirection.
 13. The fluid machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotoris interconnected with a driving unit.
 14. The fluid machine accordingto claim 1, wherein the rotor has a volume, the volume of the rotor isseparated by a plane through the largest diameter into two parts ofdifferent capacities, the first part of the rotor adjacent to the outletnozzle is larger than the second part of the rotor, the second part ofthe rotor being positioned remotely to the outlet nozzle with respect tothe first part of the rotor.
 15. The fluid machine according to claim14, wherein the volume of the second part of the rotor remotelypositioned with respect to the outlet nozzle, equals zero.